Headphones or In Ear Monitors?

[NervusTwitch]

Setup:

HX Stomp XL 4CM and Midi with Tonex into MOTU M4 interface. I also have a Mackie Big Knob in there also.

Most times I just play out HX into my Yamaha monitors but I need something for late nights when the wife in sleeping.

I currently have a set of 55ohm AKG 240 headphones but Ive always hated the sound for distorted guitars thru them. I know I can eq things for the headphones but looking for something better.

 

Ive been looking at these:

Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO or DT 990 Pro either in 80 ohm or 250. Not sure which ohm would be best.

But also wondered about using something like SENNHEISER In- Ear Audio Monitor IE-100 Pro. Ive never used IEM before so have no idea what to expect or sound quality.

 

Mostly for jamming either just guitar or with backing tracks. I do record from time to time also and use headphones alot to monitor the backing track easier while playing guitar.

 

So any input of which would be best suited for this and not sound really harsh of the mids and highs like the AKG's I have. Id prefer a fairly flat eq sound thru them.

 

Thanks.

[jester700]

I'd choose the TYPE of phone based on lifestyle needs, then the specific brand/model based on the sound profile you're after. Ideally, you'd want to try several with your own rig (or a recording of your rig), but these days that can be difficult.

 

For instance, canal phones are great at blocking external sound, not leaking much sound, and being small and portable. But they also need to fit well to have any bass, can be uncomfortable over long periods (though you can try many different ear tips), and... block lots of external sound.

 

Headphones have different strengths and weaknesses. But all phones have their own sonic profile, so you need to figure out what it is about the AKGs you don't like vs. your Yamaha monitors. You can look at Rtings to get an idea of the frequency responses of various headphones (including your AKGs) to see if it correlates with your experience. 

AKG K240 MKII Review - RTINGS.com shows response dips at 1.5k, 3.6k, and 5.6k, with a peak at 10k. If one of these is the problem (play with EQ to suss this out), you could EQ it away, or try some phones that don't have that quirk.

 

Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO Review - RTINGS.com

 

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Review - RTINGS.com

 

[waymda]

Something to consider re headphones vs IEMs is also the type of headphone - fully enclosed vs open back.

 

Many report open back headphones as providing a better/more natural experience for audio produciton. I'm strictly closed back through years of recording and minimising beed to microphones,

 

IEMs will sound even 'closer' than closed back headphones as the speaker is in your ear canal so the only air moving is in there. They will take further getting used to.

 

I would get a set of cans that general program played through the Helix sounds good to you, and tune your patches to suit. If there's huge variability between your monitors and your headphones putting an EQ block on your patches to adjust for cans may be the way to go.

 

See this thread about the ohmage of the Helix headphone output 

 

 

 

[NervusTwitch]

Thanks everyone for the info.

My knowledge with headphones isnt very good..lol. But that link did help me out so really appreciate that.

 

I tried a set of IEM's and yeah those arent for me, they just didnt fit well and I had kind of the same issue as the AKG I have.

THe AKG have to me really harsh upper mids and highs that just feels ear piecing. I can eq them but they just didnt sound pleasant to me. I have a set Sennheiser's that were a bit pricey, cant remember the model but they are closed backs and I didnt care for that with guitar only.

 

But today I went and got the beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO 250ohm and they are perfect without messing with EQ, no headphone amp needed into my MOTU interface. They sound really close to my Yamaha monitors and very comfortable to me.

 

So thanks again for the help and the links, lovin them so far.